Is there something wrong with this keets foot?

[Fishbone]

I was looking to buy keets on CraigsList and found someone local, but this picture of one of the keets doesn't look right.

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/grd/3162900102.html

They also seemed to be huddled up, either sleepy or shy!

Do you think they are OK?

 

[JLeigh]

It's hard to tell of course, but I think a simple boot tape would do the trick. (We need to wake Peeps up! She's in CA and three hours behind .) She would know better than I, but the keet I had to boot (that I mentioned on my earlier thread) looked like that, and it was just fine after a couple of days.

Edit: Oh, and the only thing I worry about is that they're on pine shavings! They need to be off the shavings since they can ingest them. The huddling could mean they're cold, but they look pretty healthy to me. Can you drive to get them? That would be ideal if you can.

 

[Fishbone]

I'm new to poultry, so starting with chicks that need splinting may not work for me.
The easy part is, they are the closest keets for sale. All the other ads are about an hour away. But the pictures of their birds looks like lively keets!

I thought I read pine shavings is what to use...not saw dust.

 

[JLeigh]

For guinea keets, it's best to put them on a non-slip surface like rubber shelf liner, or a towel without fraying - some recommend puppy training pads which I think is a great idea. Keets are more delicate than chicks, and if they ingest sawdust, shavings....they can become impacted. It doesn't mean they definitely WILL, but it's a big risk. You can switch them to different bedding material at two - three weeks.

It's funny - where I live, anyplace an hour a way is considered close - half an hour is "around the corner"! But it might be worth the hour drive to be sure you get the keets you're happy with. Good luck!

If you haven't already, take a look at this online (FREE) book called Gardening With Guineas. It's where I got my "starter" information about guineas and keets.

 

[De Wet]

i agree with leigh slippery surface not good for any chick i have the same problem with m keets one time. Then i put wiring mesh on the floor of my brooder so that the toes of the keets have to work and that was the end of my problems

 

[Fishbone]

A friend of mine that knows poultry, (not guineas very well) said he can help me find some.

I did read to use paper towels or something similar for the first week, I need to read that ebook, I've heard it mentioned before.

For me, an hour ride is, 1 hour to get there, an hour or more while there, then stop to eat, oh, while we're here, lets go there...then another hour or more to get home!

When I first moved out in the country, I took a ride on my motorcycle...it was over 5 miles just to go around 'the block'!

In contrast, I lived in Rhode Island, take an hour ride and you'll end up out of the state!...that's if you drive through the state THE LONG WAY!

 

[JLeigh]

That's funny Fishbone! Distance is only what we're used to, lol. Taping a "boot" onto a guineas toes seemed scary to me at first, but I did it and the keet's toes were just fine after two days. The boot fell off and I couldn't tell which keet had the toe problem after that. It's a two-person job if you're new to it.

I'm a panicker with all the stress and drama to go with it, but now that I've done it once, it's no big deal. I wouldn't let the toes stop you from getting those keets - if it were my decision. Plus, it may not really be a problem - the keet just might have been in a weird position when the seller took the picture. (Thanks again for the link you sent me. It was a lifesaver for my little keet)

Let us all know what you decide, and good luck. You've been doing great research which is the key to success in my opinion.